Warrington

Warrington's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Warrington increased by 5.8%, from about 191,000 to 202,000.

The addition of about 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Warrington was home to, on average, 8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Warrington.

The percentage of households in Warrington that rented privately increased from 4.8% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households lived in social housing, compared with 17% in 2001. The percentage of Warrington households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Warrington increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Warrington, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Warrington residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Warrington residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Warrington decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Warrington, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Warrington working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Warrington decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Warrington, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Warrington

The number of people in Warrington from the White ethnic groups remained close to 190,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Warrington from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,300 in 2001 to about 4,900 in 2011 (from 1.2% to 2.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 1,100 to just over 2,100 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

About 690 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 360 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Warrington decreased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Warrington by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Warrington residents that were unemployed increased from 2.9% to 4.0% between the last two censuses.

The proportion who said they were employed remained close to 57%, while the percentage of Warrington residents that were self-employed increased from 6.6% to 7.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Warrington increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Warrington, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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